Multifaced Role of Dual Herbal Principles Loaded-Lipid Nanocarriers in Providing High Therapeutic Efficacity

• Main Authors: Ioana Lacatusu, Teodora Alexandra Iordache, Mirela Mihaila, Dan Eduard Mihaiescu, Anca Lucia Pop, Nicoleta Badea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Pharmaceutics
• Subjects: dual-herbal nanocarriers; <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> extract; Diosgenin; phytochemicals; free radicals; TNF-α
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/9/1511

Although many phytochemicals have been used in traditional medicine, there is a great need to refresh the health benefits and adjust the shortcomings of herbal medicine. In this research, two herbal principles (Diosgenin and <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> extract) coopted in the Nanostructured Lipid Carriers have been developed for improving the most desirable properties of herbal medicine—antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. The contribution of phytochemicals, vegetable oils and of lipid matrices has been highlighted by comparative study of size, stability, entrapment efficiency, morphological characteristics, and thermal behavior. According to the in vitro MTS and RTCA results, the dual herbal-NLCs were no cytotoxic toward endothelial cells at concentrations between 25 and 100 µg/mL. A rapid release of <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> and a motivated delay of Diosgenin was detected by the in vitro release experiments. Dual herbal-NLCs showed an elevated ability to annihilate long-life cationic radicals (ABTS^•+) and short-life oxygenated radicals (an inhibition of 63.4% ABTS^•+, while the ability to capture radical oxygen species reached 96%). The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly inhibited by the newly herbals-NLC (up to 97.9% inhibition of TNF-α and 62.5% for IL-6). The study may open a new pharmacotherapy horizon; it provides a comprehensive basis for the use of herbal-NLC in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.